English Proficiency: Dictionary Usage and Storytelling

• Virtual University course designed to improve English proficiency with reading passages, exercises, and assessments like quizzes, assignments, midterm, and final exams.
• Lesson divided into two parts: first part covers dictionary uses, second part includes a story discussion.
• Dictionary is a book listing and explaining words, providing spellings, pronunciations, grammar details, word origins, meanings, synonyms, antonyms, and more.
• Dictionaries like Oxford Advanced Learner's and Webster's are commonly used for English learners.
• Dictionaries help with English spellings through clear rules and differentiate between American and British spellings.
• Pronunciation tables in dictionaries help learners with proper word enunciation.
• Dictionaries indicate the part of speech of a word (noun, verb, adjective, etc.) and provide abbreviations to understand these labels.
• Some dictionaries provide the etymology of words, tracing their origins from languages like French, Latin, or Greek.
• Dictionaries offer multiple meanings for words and guide users to choose the most appropriate one based on context.
• Dictionaries also help learners understand how words are used in language, including idioms, phrases, and formal vs. informal language.
• Synonyms and antonyms of words are detailed in dictionaries, along with foreign words, general information, and language labels (archaic, poetic).
• Dictionary usage tips include knowing the alphabet order, using guide words for quick word search, and understanding the layout of entries.
• Storytelling is an essential part of the lesson, with a folk tale about Raven and the coming of daylight emphasizing the importance of light.- Story involves a Raven and a Gull, with Raven thinking about Gull having a thorn in its foot, which eventually happens.
• Main idea of the story is the release of daylight over the Earth, not the removal of a thorn from Raven's foot or the meeting of birds and animals.
• In the story, Gull and Raven are cousins, both being birds.
• Gull is the custodian of daylight, not Raven as the story falsely suggests.
• Daylight was kept in a cedar box by Gull, not under a wing as mentioned.
• Sun slipped out of the box like molten fish, indicating the release of daylight.
• Authors of the tale are Gail Robinson and Douglas Hill, not just Gail Robinson.
• Story is an ancient myth explaining natural phenomena and reflecting mankind's attempt to understand surroundings and give meaning to life.

Improve English proficiency through lessons on dictionary usage (spellings, pronunciations, meanings, origins, synonyms, idioms) and storytelling (folk tale about Raven and Gull). Learn about dictionary features and storytelling elements for language enhancement.